The Mathematical GardnerDavid Klarner -~- T he articles in this book are dedicated to Martin Gardner, the world's greatest expositor and popularizer of mathematics. While our papers are confined to this single subject, Gardner's interests and accomplishments have a wide range of subjects. Hence, we have entitled the book the Mathematical Gardner, and would like to see other volumes such as the Magical, the Literary, the Philosophical, or the Scientific Gardner accompany it. Of course, our title is also an appropriate pun, for Martin Gardner's relationship to the mathematical community is similar to a gardener's relationship to a beautiful flower garden. The contributors to this volume comprise only a small part of a large body of mathematicians whose work has been nurtured by its exposition in "Mathematical Games"; Martin's column which appears every month in Scientific American. More than just a mathematical journalist, Martin connects his readers by passing along problems and information and stimulating creative activity. Thus, he is a force behind the scenes as well as a public figure. Two people were particularly helpful in putting this book together. |
Contents
Anyone for Twopins? | 2 |
Pretzel Solitaire as a Pastime for the Lonely Mathematician | 16 |
Some Remarks about a Hex Problem 25 | 25 |
Copyright | |
23 other sections not shown
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
algorithm angles bad guy binary Black king blocks boxes bricks C₁ C₂ cards Cavalieri choose circle codewords column congruent construction corresponding cubes cuboctahedron denote dimensions edges encryption scheme equal equation example exceptional glass fault-free tiling Figure 11 formula function given Goppa codes graph hand impartial games integer isohedral knapsack problem Lemma length M. C. Escher Marjorie Marjorie Rice Martin Gardner mathematical mathematician matrix Mental Poker monohedral monohedral tilings move necklace nim-value nodes notation p-gon p-values P₁ Pappus pentacubes pentagons pentominoes permutations plane play player polygons polyomino position possible probe pattern problem proof prototile puzzle radius rectangle recursive representation result rook rotation rows S₁ second pass Section sequence shift register shown in Figure side solution square strategy symmetry tessellation theorem theory translation type trapdoor functions triangles vertex vertices White